Before you start your sewing project, you have to figure out what type of thread to use. If you’ve ever seen the giant section of thread at the store, you might get a little overwhelmed by all of the choices. There are two major decisions to make when choosing thread, so let’s break it down a little.
Thread Type
For most projects, you’re going to use a multipurpose, or all purpose, thread. The most popular brand you’ll see is Coats & Clark. It comes on spools but can also come in larger cones as well. Generally, it is 100% polyester thread, which will work for most projects. There are also cotton thread, silk thread, linen thread, elastic thread, and metallic thread, although you may not see all of these in your local stores. These can be used to sew with as well but are typically for more specialized projects. You will want to choose the thread that will work for your project. If you aren’t sure, then you’re probably fine to use the all purpose polyester thread.
Thread Color
The other thing to think about when choosing thread is the color. Threads come in all kinds of colors, which is great! Usually when choosing a thread color, you want to match it to your fabric color as closely as possible. This makes the thread more or less disappear into the fabric, so the stitching lines are not very visible. Obviously, this does not apply to decorative stitching or embroidery, but more to the construction stitching of a project. It can get tricky to do this with a multicolor fabric. Sometimes you will need to try several different colors to see which one blends the best.
Did you know that you should consider these things when choosing thread for a project? Or did you think you just grabbed a spool of white thread and called it a day? (You absolutely can do that, it just may not be the best choice for your project.)